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The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, or "Hurricane Hunters," is an Air Force Reserve unit assigned to the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. The unit provides meteorological data to the National Hurricane Center in Miami to improve their forecasts. While the squadron is aligned under AFRC, weather reconnaissance taskings originate at the NHC, which falls, not under the Department of Defense, but the Department of Commerce. (U.S. Air Force graphic)


War on Weather

The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, or "Hurricane Hunters," is an Air Force Reserve unit assigned to the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. The unit provides meteorological data to the National Hurricane Center in Miami to improve their forecasts. While the squadron is aligned under AFRC, weather reconnaissance taskings originate at the NHC, which falls, not under the Department of Defense, but the Department of Commerce. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

Related Imagery
Tech. Sgt. Thomas Barnaby, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron weather reconnaissance loadmaster, talks to members of the media and public about the weather-data-gathering instrument called the dropsonde in Islip, New York, during the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour May 8, 2017. The purpose of the tour, which ran from May 6-12, 2017, was to focus attention on the approaching hurricane season and on protecting communities through preparedness and awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens)
Lt. Col. Shannon Hailes, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron instructor pilot, talks to members of the public about the capabilities of the squadron’s WC-130J Hercules aircraft in Arlington, Virginia, during the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour May 9, 2017. The purpose of the tour, which ran from May 6-12, 2017, was to focus attention on the approaching hurricane season and on protecting communities through preparedness and awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens)
Members of the public view a WC-130J Hercules aircraft from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” in Arlington, Virginia, during the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour May 9, 2017. The purpose of the tour, which ran from May 6-12, 2017, was to focus attention on the approaching hurricane season and on protecting communities through preparedness and awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens)
Col. Brian May, 403rd Wing Operations Group commander, talks with North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper about the mission of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron “Hurricane Hunters” in Raleigh, North Carolina, during the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour May 10, 2017. The purpose of the tour, which ran from May 6-12, 2017, was to focus attention on the approaching hurricane season and on protecting communities through preparedness and awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens)
Dr. Rick Knabb, National Hurricane Center director, addresses media at a press conference in Orlando, Florida, during the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour May 11, 2017. The purpose of the tour, which ran from May 6-12, 2017, was to focus attention on the approaching hurricane season and on protecting communities through preparedness and awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens)
First Lt. Garrett Black, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron aerial reconnaissance weather officer, talks with members of the media about the Hurricane Hunter mission in Miami, Florida, during the 2017 Hurricane Awareness Tour May 12, 2017. The purpose of the tour, which ran from May 6-12, 2017, was to focus attention on the approaching hurricane season and on protecting communities through preparedness and awareness. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Ryan Labadens)
Tech. Sgt. Nathan Martinez, 302nd Operations Group SERE specialist, reviews map reading with members of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron during the land survival portion of Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape refresher training in the woods of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, May 9, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo//Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek)
Tech. Sgt. Nathan Martinez, 302nd Operations Group SERE specialist, shows the members of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron how to find truth north using a compass and map during the land survival portion of Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) refresher training in the woods of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, May 9,2017. (U.S. Air Force photo//Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek)
Members of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron follow Technical Sgt. Karen Moore, 53rd WRS loadmaster, who leads the way using a compass during the land survival portion of Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) refresher training in the woods of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, May 9,2017. (U.S. Air Force photo//Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek)
Staff Sgt. Jesse Jordan, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron loadmaster, conducts an inspection of the WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Jordan is responsible for making sure that the equipment and personnel are loaded accurately to ensure the safety of the aircraft and the crew. (U.S. Air Force photo//Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek)
Staff Sgt. Jesse Jordan, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron loadmaster, conducts an inspection of the WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Jordan is responsible for making sure that the equipment and personnel are loaded accurately to ensure the safety of the aircraft and the crew. (U.S. Air Force photo//Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek)
Staff Sgt. Jesse Jordan, 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron loadmaster, conducts an inspection of the WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Jordan is responsible for making sure that the equipment and personnel are loaded accurately to ensure the safety of the aircraft and the crew. (U.S. Air Force photo//Master Sgt. Jessica Kendziorek)